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Waugoshance Trail Marathon

Half Marathon & Marathon Relay

Emmet County, Michigan July 9, 2016

The course follows a remarkable section of the North Country Trail that travels from Cross Village to Mackinaw City in the far northwestern region of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. The course features over 90% single track and includes rolling bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan, coastal forests, inland wilderness lakes. The marathon relay features two 13.1 mile legs. The half marathon starts near Goose Pond in Wilderness State Park.

Event

Day & Date

Location

Start Time

Marathon

Saturday, 7/9/2016

Cross Village

7:00 a.m.

Marathon Relay

Saturday, 7/9/2016

Cross Village

7:00 a.m.

Half Marathon

Saturday, 7/9/2016

Wilderness State Park

8:00 a.m.

Results

Travel & Lodging

Nearest Airport: Pellston, MICamping at Wilderness State Park: (231) 436-5381Wilderness State Park Cabins & Camping: Info & ReservationsChamber of Commerce: 888.455.8100Chamber of Commerce Website:http://www.mackinawchamber.com/We recommend lodging at the Holiday Inn Express, which is less than one mile from the Mackinaw City School.

Packet Pick Up

Natural History of Waugoshance Point

Waugoshance Point and Wilderness State Park have a rich geological, biological, and cultural history. In addition to running the North Country Trail, you will have an opportunity to learn more about the natural history of the area. A Wilderness State Park forest ranger will provide an interpretive program on Friday July 8, 7:00PM at the Mackinaw City School in Mackinaw City.

Events

Marathon

Run a beautiful single track route from Cross Village to Mackinaw City in northern Michigan. The marathon starts at Wycamp Lake and winds up and along the Sturgeon Bay bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. Runners descend into wildflower blanketed lowlands before arriving at Goose Pond. This is the half way point and the start of the Half Marathon. The next six miles feature pine needle carpeted trail through rolling forest. The trail opens up as it reaches French Farm Lake, a sandy bottomed wilderness lake with towering pines along the shore. Several miles of the route follow its shoreline before runners enter a cedar forest for 2 miles. The last 3 miles feature a converted rail trail that is flat and smooth. Runners finish at the Mackinaw City School athletic grounds. Post race foods include organic baked goods, fruit and locally grown cherry juice. course is well marked with colored flags, directional arrows, and mile markers. Runners are bused to the start from Mackinaw City School. Buses depart at 5:30 a.m. Gear bags will be transported back to the finish.Marathon Start: 7:00 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016, Cross Village. Map

Marathon Relay

The relay has two 13.1 mile legs. Teams categories include female, male, and male/female teams with various age groups that use the total of both teammates ages (see age groups below).The first leg of the relay starts with the marathoners on Wycamp Lake Rd just north of Cross Village (see description above). The exchange zone occurs just before the Goose Pond Aid Station in Wilderness State Park. The second leg follows the second half of the marathon course (see description above) and finishes at the Mackinaw City School. First leg runners are bused to the start from Mackinaw City High School to Wycamp Lake Road. Second leg runners can take the bus from Mackinaw City School to Wilderness State Park. First leg runners are then bused to the finish. Buses depart at 5:30 a.m. for first leg runners, 7:00 a.m. for second leg runners. Return bus Wilderness State Park exchange zone leaves when all runners have made the exchange (9:00 - 9:30 a.m.). Each relay member must register independently, indicating your teammate during online registration. Marathon Relay Start: 7:00 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016, Cross Village. Map

Half Marathon

The half marathon starts in Wilderness State Park and follows the last half of the marathon course past Canada Goose Pond, crossing of the Carp River, the north shore of French Farm Lake and then through a dense balsam forest before joining an old rail grade into Mackinaw City. A bus from Mackinaw City High School will take runners to the start. Buses depart at 7:00 a.m. Half Marathon Start: 8:00 a.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016 Wilderness State Park. Map

Aid Stations

The marathon will have five aid stations at 4.2, 7.5, 13.1, 18.2, and 22.5 miles. The half marathon will have two aid stations at 5.1 and 9.4 miles. All runners are required to carry a 20 oz water bottle or similar functional hydration system that can be refilled. Volunteers will have large pitchers with cold water and cold HEED (Hammer Nutrition) energy drink with electrolytes to quickly refill your hydration system. Hammer Gel and Endurolytes will be available at each aid station.

Time Limits

There is a six hour time limit for the marathon. This is strictly enforced for safety reasons and the remote nature of the race course. Do not register if you cannot finish in six hours. Aid stations will close at the times listed in the table below. Runners who decide to drop out of the race are advised to drop out at an aid station where transportation back to Mackinaw City will be available. A sweep runner will follow the last runner, thus closing the race course.

Refund & Transfer Policy

No refunds. This means that once you have registered your entry fee will not be refunded for any reason by Great Lakes Endurance. Active.com offers entry fee insurance.No participant transfers. This means you may not transfer your entry to anyone else.No year to year transfers. This means that you cannot transfer your entry to any future events.Distance transfers. You may transfer from the marathon to the half marathon, half marathon to the marathon relay or marathon relay to the half marathon until July 8, 2016. Email the race director (
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) to request an event change. There are no refunds for entry fee differences between events.Please note: Personal checks will no longer be accepted by Great Lakes Endurance.

Bus Transportation

Time

Who

Departure Location

Arrival Location

5:30 a.m.

Marathoners and First Runner of the Marathon Relay

Mackinaw City School

Wycamp Lake Rd, Cross Village

7:00 a.m.

Half Marathoners and Second Runner of the Marathon Relay

Mackinaw City School

Wilderness State Park, Goose Pond

9:30 a.m.

Pick up for the First Runners of the Marathon Relay

Wilderness State Park, Goose Pond

Mackinaw City School

Age Groups

Event

Age Groups

Marathon

15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Marathon Relay

Combined Ages: <40, 41-60, 61-80, 81-100, 101-120, 121+

Half Marathon

13-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+

Awards

Event

Overall Male & Female

Top Three in Each Age Group

All Runners

Marathon

Merrell Gear

Ceramic Bowl by artist Thomas Baugnet

Custom Finisher Medallion Eco-tech Shirt by Greenlayer

Marathon Relay

Half Marathon

Creating a Positive Experience

The Waugoshance Trail Marathon & Half Marathon are run on immensely beautiful trails. To ensure a good race experience, you must be well trained. Expect very challenging, hilly and technical terrain. Bring a refillable hydration system. It is a requirement to participate in the race. Aid stations are up to 5-6 miles apart. To ensure that you have plenty of fluids and energy, we suggest you refill at each aid station. Hammer Gel and Endurolytes will also be available at all aid stations.

Littering

Please do not litter. Runners who litter will be disqualified. A volunteer at each aid station will be glad to take any litter you may have and/or transport something back to the finish line for you to pick up later.

Bikes

For runner safety, bikes are not allowed on the course during the race (except for GLE volunteers). Spectators who wish to ride bikes can ride county roads to access several points on the marathon and half marathon course, but must remain off the actual running course at all times. Failure to abide by this policy will result in the runner the biker is spectating a disqualification.

Dogs

Dogs are allowed in the start/finish area, but not on the race course. Dogs must be current on rabies and all other vaccinations. Dogs may not be left unattended at any time, must be quiet, and on a leash no more than 6 foot. All animal waste must be picked up.

iPods/MP3 Players

For runner safety, we advise against the use of iPods.

Environmental Measures

Greenlayer, eco-tech shirts made from 100% recycled polyester.

Each runner must carry a functional hydration system or a minimum 20oz water bottle. There are no cups at the aid stations. Cups are wasteful, end up in landfills, and don't work very well at hydrating runners. There is less spillage and better hydration for runners (access to fluid between aid stations).

Food served after the event are either locally produced, organically grown, or both.

Ceramic bowls hand made by artist Thomas Baugnet.

Food waste is composted and all other materials are recycled.

Course is marked with reusable flags that are removed after the event.